Be A Funky Teacher Podcast
Real conversations for educators who care deeply about the work.
Classroom stories, practical ideas, teacher well-being, leadership, student voice, and honest reflection from Mr. Funky Teacher, Nicholas Kleve.
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309 episodes
Jun 15, 2026
Why This Conference Mattered: Reflections from a National Education Conference in Las Vegas
In this episode, I reflect on attending a national education conference in Las Vegas as part of a Winnebago Public Schools team helping lead our professional learning community…
Jun 14, 2026
Sunday School for Teachers: The Prodigal Son — Grace When Students Stray
In this Sunday School for Teachers episode, I reflect on the parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:11–32. Jesus tells the story of a younger son who…
Jun 13, 2026
Saturday Stories Leadership Kit: Help Our Community — After School
In this Saturday Stories Leadership Kit episode, I continue our focus on the leadership value of helping others by introducing the skill of helping our community. Through the…
Jun 12, 2026
A Letter to a Teacher in the AI Age
In this final episode of the series, I step away from statistics, tools, and predictions and speak directly to teachers. After 55 episodes exploring artificial intelligence and education,…
Jun 11, 2026
What Human-Centered Teaching Actually Means
In this episode, I define what I mean when I use the phrase human-centered teaching. It is not anti-technology, anti-innovation, or resistant to change. It simply means making…
Jun 10, 2026
The Tension: Navigating AI Without Losing Ourselves
In this episode, I reflect on one of the realities that has become increasingly clear throughout this AI series: conversations about artificial intelligence are filled with tension. AI…
Jun 9, 2026
The Through Line: What Connected These 10 Weeks?
In this episode, I look back across 10 weeks of weekday conversations about artificial intelligence, assessment, technology, relationships, student voice, identity, policy, learning, and humanity. Although those topics…
Jun 8, 2026
Why This Conversation About AI Matters
In this episode, I reflect on why the conversation about artificial intelligence in education matters so deeply. AI is already present in the lives of students, teachers, families,…
Jun 7, 2026
Sunday School for Teachers: The Beatitudes — The Upside-Down Classroom
In this Sunday School for Teachers episode, I reflect on the Beatitudes from Matthew 5:1–12. Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount by describing the people who are…
Jun 6, 2026
Saturday Stories Leadership Kit: Work Together — The Talent Show
In this Saturday Stories Leadership Kit episode, I introduce a new leadership value: helping others. The featured story, The Talent Show, focuses on the teamwork skill of working…
Jun 5, 2026
Choosing Humanity on Purpose
In this episode, I reflect on the central message that has emerged across the last 50 weekday episodes about artificial intelligence, technology, schools, systems, teachers, and students: You…
Jun 4, 2026
Becoming the Teacher the Future Needs
In this episode, I reflect on what the teacher of the future will truly need to become. Artificial intelligence, technology, classrooms, and students will continue changing, but I…